Tracer for duplicating machines



June 13, 1939.

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o. E. ROSEN 2,162,491

TRACER FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 15, 1937 INVENTOR os BY CAR E RosEN an 'l Y A RNEY Junel3, 1939. o. E. ROSEN 2,162,491

TRAcEa Fon DUPLIQATING MACHINES kFiled Dec. 15, 1937 2 `sme'gs-shwc 4v2 Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE 12 Claims.

The present invention relates to tracers or indioators for use in duplicating machinesl in which a cutting machine of suitable character is controlled in its operation by suitable means in turn controlled through the action of a' pointer or tracer or indicator moved over the object or pattern to be reproduced.

Such duplicating or reproducing machines are shown in my copending applications Serial No.

82,362, led May 28, 1936, for Profiling machines; Serial No. 138,140, filed April 21 1937,

for Duplicating machines; and Serial No.

146,252, led June 3, 1937, for Tracer for duplieating machines, all such forms being electrically controlled.

Among the objects of the present invention is a tracer which may be utilized for the control of all forms of machines shown in these val'nplications or any other machine of the same general character.

- Another object is a tracer which acts to control the movement of the cutting machine, in accordance with the profile of the pattern surface, so as to reproduce such profile without producing any objectionably stepped surface.

' Another object is a tracer which itself may be hand-controlled if desired.

Other objects and advantages will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon referenceto the following description and ythe accompanying drawingsin which j.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section on line I--I of Figure 2', showing the'internalconstruction voi the tracer proper.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the tracer.

Figure 3 is a side elevation lookingv at the underside of Figure 2, with a portion o f the tracer omitted.

Figure 4 is a side elevation, with part. in section, ofthe feed control means.'

Figure 5 is a section on line 5,--5 lof Figure 4, and

Figure 6 isa diagrammatic; view showing the connection of the tracer to the feed control clutch.

As shown in the drawings, the device comprises a tubular housing I0 having at one end a threaded sleeve |I fixed in adjusted position by a nut I2. This sleeve is provided in one end with a spherical seat I3 `for the `ball-sha1: 2d portion I4 of the I tracer finger assembly, the latter consisting of a rear portion I5 which includes the ball' I4 and whichis axially bored in its forward end to receive the tracer point member I6.

Attached to the rear end of housing Ill is second housing 20, cylindrical ,in formand somewhat larger in diameter; This housing 20 comprises a main portion 20a attached to housing III anda cap portion 20h, these parts being held together .by any suitable means. Mounted in the portion 20a and suitably insulated therefrom is a Contact member 2| to which is connected aconducting Wire (not shown) through the opening 22. Also mounted in portion 20a and extending through one of the side walls thereof at a point diametrically opposite contact 2|, is a shaft 22a, suitable bearings 23 being provided. 'Ihis shaft has mounted eccentrically upon its inner end a small ball bearing 24, the eccentricity being of the order of a few thousandths of an inch, the inner race being fixed to the shaft and the outer race or ring of course turning freely.

The cap portion 20h also carries a contact 3|, preferably mountedto be adjustable axially of the housing and in alignment with contact 2|.. In the structure shown, the vcontact 3| is carried by a screw 32 passing through the cap and rotat' able by means of an insulated knurled knob 33. The screw 32 and contact 3| are of course insulated from the cap and a suitable conductor connected thereto through the inlet 34. A third leadin for a conductoris indicated'at 35, this, leading to an adjustable contact carrying screw 35a operable through a suitable insulated head 36. A fourth lead-in for a conductor is shown at 40, this being preferably axially located andinsulated from the cap 20h. The lead-in 40 is connected to a block 42 provided with upstanding ears between which is located a lever 50, the latter being pivoted upon a suitable pin 5| and being slotted as shown at 52 for the passage of the pin, thus providing for a small amount of bodily movement of the lever.

As shown in Figure 1,.the lever 5U is of sufficient length to extend from the bearing 24 to the contacts 2| and 3|, and is itself provided with contacts 2|a and Sla which are located between the stationary contacts 2| and 3| and coact therewith in amanner to be described. At .the other end, the lever carries a block of insulating material 55, into which is set a button of hardened steel 56 to take the wear of the disc 24, while centrally of the lever is located a conical depression 51. Y

Also mounted in block 42 is a spring pressed plunger 60 of insulating material which contacts with the lever 50 and tends `to thrust the latter arially of thev` housing away from thekcapand therefore against disc 24 and contact 2|.

As shown in lFigure 1, the inner end I5 `of the ,tracer-.is provided with a conical depression turn is fixed into the housing 20.

' causes the desired feed of the work in a direcp tion parallel to the axis of the cutter. However,

The plunger 61 extends into housing 20 and has its end conical or more or less pointed as shown at 69 and is received `in a corresponding socket in a short extension piece 10, conical at its other end to cooperate with the depression 51 in lever 50, its point angle being slightly less than-the angle of the depression. l

Further, the extension piece is, as shown, constructed of conducting material and insulating material so arranged that its two ends are insulated from each other.

' As shown in Figures 2 and 3, housing 20 is provided with a lateral extension 15 within which is mounted'a suitable electric motor 16 provided with a pulley 11 over which and overpulley 25 extends a suitable drive belt 18 and current supply for this motor may be conveniently taken from connector 35 and from block 42, such connections not being shown, the lead wires extending through a suitable opening in the housing 20.

In the operation of the 4present device as so far described, for example in connection with the machines shown in the copending applications above referred to, suitable conductors will extend from connector 22 to one of the solenoids controlling machine movement in one direction and from connector 34 tothe other solenoid. A suitable current supply vconductor will extend to connector 40 and thence to lever 50. Further, a suitable conductor will be secured to connector 35 to provide for continuous operation of the motor 16.

With these connections and with the initial adjustment such that the contacts 2| and 2|a are together, these will remain together until the tracer nger I6 touches the pattern, either laterally or directly upon the end, the movement of lever 50, due to the action of eccentric 24 being takenin the slotted pivotal mounting and by plunger 60.

However, any axial or lateral movement of the finger I6 will cause the lever 50 to be moved bodily toward the left (Figure 1) and, if such movement is suiiicient, the contacts 3| and )la will come together and cause the opposite movement of the machine.

'The device should be so adjusted that the slight oscillating movement of the lever 50 due to the rotating eccentric 24 is insuillcient to cause Vthe contacts 2|a and Sla to move from one to the other of contacts 2| and 3|, to thereby prdvide for a neutral position of the tracer nger.

In the operation of such cutting lmachines, however,`the pattern sometimes has a contour such that there is an abrupt or vertical rise and, in such cases, means for stopping temporarily the movement of the work laterally of the cutter must Abe provided. When the tracer |6 strikes such a rise in the contour of vthe pattern it of course bringscontacts Il and ila together and if the contour is vertical the feed must be stopped from lateral movement to allow vthe vertical ,'cut. Such means is provided in the present device and is shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6.

In these figures the, frame of the cutting machine is indicated at |00'and the shaft operating the work table at I0| and IOIa, these being connected through universal 'Joints |02, the one part to the drive and the other to the movable table, this connection being indicated diagrammatically in Figure 6. It should be understood that in the conventionalmachine a continuous shaft is used while in the present device the two parts |0I and I0|a are used in the same manner -when connected by the device about to be described.

In the device shown, the shaft portions |0| and |0|aare aligned but spaced apart at a short distance, the end of part extending into and keyed as at |05 to a sleeve |06 and the end I0|a extending into and being keyed to a short sleeve or collar |01. The sleeves |06 and |01 at'their adjacent ends are, as shown, reduced and flanged as at |08 to coact with an internally grooved split collar |09 which preserves the alignment and prevents the separation of the shaft portions.

The two sleeves |06 and I 01 are surrounded by a helix I I0 which is xed to collar |01 as by a screw and which extends to the far end |06 and ring |09. The portion of helix |I0 overlying sleeve |01 is covered by a ring I I3 which` serves to anchor screw I I'I and also furnishes a braking surface for this sleeve. The purpose of this latter will appear later. A 1

Surrounding sleeve ||2 a'nd ilxed thereto by a screw or-screws ||6 is a brake ring ||5, grooved as at |I1, and in' the groove is located a brake ||8 having suitable lining H9.

'I'his brake ||8 is as shown, composed of two shoes hinged together as at |20, one shoe |2| being movable with respect to the rest of the device and the othery |22 being an integral part ofv a frame |23, which frame is provided with a projecting upper end adapted to press against one of the walls |00 while the lower end is provided with a foot |24 serving to support and also-as a suitable mounting for a solenoid |25.

The free ends of brake shoes |2| and |22 are.

ing between nuts |20 and stationary shoe |22,`r

tends to pull the shoes together and thereby maintain application of the brake to the ring- II5, suitable spring adjustment is of course acclzglsnplished through the movement of the nuts In the preferred construction, the bolt |26 is bored longitudinally and has a suitable rod |30 extending therethrough, the lower end being providediwith an eye |3| and the upper end threaded to receive suitable nuts |32 serving to adjust the position of the rod. 'I'he lower end of rod |30 is connected in suitable fashion to the armature |33 of solenoid |25, and the winding of the latter is connected as follows:

The wire |34 from one end of the solenoid winding is connected to the tracer by a suitable binding post or lead in opening 40a, which in turn is connected t0 one of the supply lines `|n such manner 4as to complete a circuit through The wire |35 leads to connection 35 on the tracer and is therefore connected to the contact screw 35a. This 4contact screw 35a coacts with a contact 35h carried-on the same side as the latter so that extreme movement. of the 50 cillating said arm in a path shorter than the .pressed inwardly as by a spring |43.l The outer end of the plunger |4| extends out of the housing' 20a, being slotted at its end and carries a short transverse shaft |44 upon which is mounted an eccentric disc |45rof such sizeand eccentricity as to provide for movement into and out:

of centralized position of the extension Piece 10 when the eccentric i`s rotated, this acting against the end of the guide |42.

In the operation of the device shown in Fig--A -ures 4 and 5, it is of course obvious that, when the two shaft parts |0|l and '|0la are rotating together, the ring ||5 is sliding in the brake shoes, but the energization of the solenoid |25 Will relieve the pressure of the brake |2||22 upon the ring ||5 xed to one end of the helix ||0 and allow the latter to relax its `grip upon the sleeve |06, so that the shaft parts are disconnected and part |0| no longer driven. Immediately, however, upon deenergizing the solenoid |25 by breaking the contacts 35u-35D, the brake I2|-|22 grips and retards the movement of sleeve ||2 and causes the helix to clutch the sleeve |06 to recommence the driving of part |01.

In order to insure the continuous contact of the upper end of frame |23 with the wall |00, a

small brake 40a acting upon` the driven ring |01 may be fixed to frame |23 as by the bracket or brackets |4|a. This brake of course will be adjusted to rather slight pressure'so that it slips when the other brake is released but tends to carry the frame |23 along with it.

The present case is in part a continuation of application Serial No. 146,252, filed June 3, 1937, for Tracer for duplicating machines.

What I claim is:

1. In a tracer for electrically controlled duplicating machines, a tracer nger, a pair of electric contacts, a contact carrying arm arranged to complete a circuit through either of said pair l and located between them, means for rapidly osdistance between said pair, and means actuated by said finger for moving said osclllatingarm f tric contacts oppositely disposed in spaced relation, a contact carrying arm arranged to complete a circuit through either of said pair and located between them, means for rapidly oscil-l lating said arm in a path shorter than the distance between s aid pair, and means actuated by said finger for moving said oscillating arm bodily toward one or the other-member of saidI pair whereby rapidly repeated contact is 'made'between said arm and said member.

coact with the members of the pair, means for' rapidly oscillating said lever in a path shorter than the distance between said pair, and means actuated by said nger for moving said oscillating lever bodily toward one or the other member of said pair whereby rapidly repeated contact 'is' made between said lever and said member.

4. In a tracer assembly for electrically controlled duplicat( r machines, motor means, a con-V tact carrying element rapidly oscillatable by said motor means, a pair of contacts, a tracer linger, and means actuated by said linger for causing said oscillatable element to coact with one or the other -of said pair.

5. In a tracer for duplicating machines, a tracer arm fulcrumed for limited universal and longitudinal movement `and carrying 'a tracer linger at one end thereof and having a depression in the other end, a lever transverse to the axis of said arm adjacent said other end and likewise provided with a depression, a ball in said depressions, fulcrum means for said lever in substantially axial alignment with said arm, said fulcrum means constructed and arranged to allow bodily movement of said lever in the directionn of the axis of said arm, a pair of stationary contacts, other contacts carried by said lever and arranged to coact with yone or the other of the stationary contacts, and means for oscillating said lever whereby repeated coaction between one or the other of said stationary contacts and a lever-carried contact will be had according to the position of said lever.

6. In electrically controlled duplicating cutting machines, a tracer unit including a finger` for following the profile Vof a suitable pattern, electrically operated means for controlling the feed of said machines, said means being controlled by the movement of said tracer by said pattern, said tracer unit including means for rapidly and repeatedly making and breaking circuits to said feed controlling means, and means operated by said finger for modifying the relative length of the circuit making and breaking periods.

7. In a tracer according to claim 1, a third set of contacts so located as to complete a circuit upon extreme lateral movement of the tracer finger.

8. In a tracer accordingto claim 1, a third set of contacts so located as to complete a circuitv upon extreme lateral ymovement of the tracer finger, one member of said set being carried upon said arm and the other located out of the range of oscillation of said arm.

9. In combination with a tracer adapted to control electrically the operation of. a cutting machine having means forl driving the work feed "table, an electrically actuated clutch for said driving means and means in said tracer for completing an emergency circuit to said clutch means to thereby release said clutch and stop the work feed.

10. A tracer assembly for electrically controlled duplicator machines, said assembly including atracer finger displaceable with relation to said assembly and adapted to' follow the profile of a pattern, a pair of stationary electric contacts in said assembly so arranged that a circuit completed through one of them produces a predetermined operatlon in the controlled machin'e and a circuit throughthe other of said contacts produces lanother operation on said machine, a circuit making contact adjacent said pair and movable to'complete a circuit through one orA the other of said pair, means connected to said finger for moving said movable contact toward one or the other of said pair of contacts and means for oscillating said movable contact to and from that` one of the stationary contacts nearest to it, whereby to repeatedly make and break the circuit therethrough.

11. A tracer assembly for electrically controlled duplicator machines, said assembly including a tracer finger displaceable with relation to said assembly and adapted to follow the profile of. a pattern, an electric contact in said assembly so arranged that a circuit therethrough causes a predetermined operation oi said controlled machine, a. second contact. movable to complete such circuit, means for oscillating one of said contacts toward and from the other and l means controlled and actuated by said iinger to move one of said contacts toward the other whereby to cause a repeated making and breaking of said circuit, the amount of movement of said movable contact determining the relative duration` of said circuit making and breaking periods.

12. A tracer assembly for electrically controlled duplicator machines, saidassembly including a tracer ringer displaceable with relation to said assembly and adapted to follow the profile of a pattern, means for establishing an electric circuit through said assembly to said controlled machine, means in said assembly for repeatedly making and breaking said circuit, and means actuated "by said nger for varying the relative duration of the make and break periods of the thus produced intermittent circuit in proportion to the displacement of said finger.

OSCAR E. ROSEN. 

